Works of Art, Creating Our Handmade Silver and Copper DESIDERATUM Art Jewelry, Architectural Creations and Other Projects ....
and Musings of Living a Frugal Artistic Country Life in Central New Brunswick, Canada

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Daphne... For Earth Day

I salute Earth day by focusing on a beautiful early flowering shrub... Daphne, that has given us and anyone who is within range of it... Joy... every year since we found it...

I relate Daphne to Earth day as it was presented to me by Nature itself... the seed of which was either blown by the wind or deposited by a bird to a lonely gravel roadside... where it had managed... against all odds, to take root... survive... and grow... to the point at which we discovered it.

We found it 15 years ago when we were going for a walk along a quiet country road after supper as the sun was going down...
it was only a single small twig... approx. 12" tall completely covered with deep rose colored blossoms... there was simply no ignoring it... not just because of its brilliance but even more emphatic... was its fragrance.... Intoxicating...

At the time we did not know what it was... just that it was a beautiful gift from nature... We saw it again on our way back... we could not resist it... we hurried home ... came right back ... carefully dug it up and planted it by our door in our new garden... just where the sun shines... when it rises in the morning...

We took care of it and to our most happy surprise it flourished...

When we moved to St.Martins in 2000 we could not leave it behind... it represented Spring itself!

We brought it with us... planted it by our door... again...

It has flourished even more than we had ever hoped... It doesn't look like much yet... when this picture was taken this morning... but in a few days with our warmer temperatures.... it will burst forth...

At this time of year it is just beginning to flower ... these blooms just opened today... when it is in full bloom it is covered top to bottom in blooms...

...when the screen door or window is open nearby the fragrance floats into the house... when you pass by... it hits you like a wake up call... to stop and enjoy the beauty that nature has given us....

Thank you little bird or gentle breezes... You have made my Earth Day!

10 comments:

Wow, this is a wonderful shrub! To have been with you for 15 years, to delight you with it's aroma and even moved with you. It's like an old friend...I would love one of these for my doorstep:)Happy Earth Day Gwen!

Thanks Anet and Sandy, I smile every time I look at that sweet little bush...

the bees like it too... max took some really great macro shots of our first big bumble bee sipping nectar... they turned out great and he posted them on his blog...

the bee just stayed there for the longest time... didn't want to leave... guess he knew when he found a good thing!!

Sharon... I wish we had a little smell feature we could post on our blog so you could push the button and this beautiful fragrance would burst out... even if anyone didn't like smelly things I bet they would love this!

Roxanne, you are so right... I just went over to your blog and those snow geese were breath-taking!!

Thanks, I learned about a new shrub today. It looks so exotic and tropical to me! Like bouganvilla. The vibrant fuschia color just doesn't look like New Brunswick!

This is a heart-warming story of Daphne finding you. It reminds me of reincarnation stories, that a soul looks for its parents, chooses them. As Sandy says, she found you, how lucky you both are.

It's a great post for Earth Day, because you aren't just nodding to it, but you're sharing a glimpse of how you take a deeper interest in a particular member of our Nature family, you've actually got a relationship with this shrub. It's inspiring. I just love coming here.

I know what you mean ... for the longest time I considered the little shrub so precious that I wouldn't snip anything off it at all... for fear I would injure it...

But seeing how hardy it is I occasionally indulge myself and bring some precious inside now.

Hi Ruth, Funny how little happenstance things have such ties to our emotions...

I have often wondered why "Smell-a vision" never came around when television did.. well I understand why but it would be an interesting concept... might not want to have a whiff of some things though...

Little Old Homestead

*** 2018 - The SABBATICAL - oh my, the Excitement ***

After 25 years of creating our whimsical Desideratum Art Jewelry, we are taking a Sabbatical. Yes, indeed... we have waited a long time for this. The freedom to explore and experiment with abandon and to indulge ourselves in the many fields of creativity that have been simmering away on the back burner.

John will be centering himself in his Painting studio... Oil painting to be specific. I will have my hands in sheep fleece, textiles, drawing, gardening etc.... and we will occasionally make some jewelry pieces in limited and one-of designs,of course. The prospect of the coming year is Exhilarating to say the least. Things will be humming here.

Thank You so very much to Everyone, Individuals and Shop Owners, who have followed our work all these years... we dearly appreciate it... we hope to have lots more things to share in this next chapter of our lives.

The Muses

Sorry... Sold-Out

......My Inspirational Muse .......The DESIDERATA .......

Go Placidly Amid The Noise And Haste and Remember what peace there may be in silence.As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.Speak your truth quietly and clearly; And listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; They too have their story...

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit.If you compare yourself with others, you will become vain and bitter; For always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans...

Keep interested in your own career, however humble; It is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism...

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity & disenchantment it is perennial as the grass...

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings.Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself...

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should...

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors & aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul...

With all the sham, drudgery & broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.......